Documents, furniture razed as fire guts National Assembly

There was pandemonium at the National Assembly complex on Thursday as fire gutted one of the rooms in the House of Representatives’ new building.

It was gathered that Room 227 in the New Wing of the House of Representatives was gutted by fire but was promptly put out, averting spread to other parts of the National Assembly complex.

The fire razed some documents at the complex while furniture and other items were also burnt.

The fire outbreak was confirmed via a statement issued on Thursday night by the Director of Information, National Assembly, Rawlings Agada, noting that the inferno was caused by an electrical fault.

Agada stated that the fire was put out by staff on duty who immediately broke into the affected office before the arrival of the fire service officers.

The statement read: “There was a fire incident this evening in one of the Jenitors, located on the 2nd floor, Room 227 in the New Wing of the House of Representatives, suspected to have resulted from an electrical fault which was noticed by one of the Staff to the Clerk, House of Representatives, who promptly alerted the Federal Fire Service Unit stationed in the National Assembly Complex.

“Accordingly, the fire has be put out with assistance of staff on duty who immediately broke into the affected office and effectively deployed Stationed fire extinguishers on the floor before the arrival of the fire service officers.

“Consequently, the combined prompt efforts, curtailed the fire to the affected office only and power supply to the wing put off to enable a full assessment and investigations into the incident.

“It is expected that, after due assessment by the fire service and the Estate and works directorates, Normalcy in the New Wings, housing all principal officers of the House of Representatives and Honourable members office’s, will be restored immediately.

“Management wish to commend the prompt response/actions by the first responders particularly, National Assembly staff and the Fire Service Unit in helping to curtain the fire outbreak,” Agada stated.

The Star

Segun Ojo